The potential of LIV Golf players playing in the Ryder Cup remains up in the air, as the fallout between the new league and the established DP World Tour continues in Europe.
When the contentious Saudi Arabia-backed series launched in 2022, a blanket ban was placed on those who defected to LIV playing in DP World Tour events.
A recent arbitration case was held to determine whether players who have defected from the tour for LIV will be allowed to return, with the outcome yet to be announced.
If their DP World Tour participation continues to be culled, it will effectively disqualify LIV's European players from contention for this year's Ryder Cup as well, with qualification determined partly through the DP World Tour.
One past Ryder Cup hero and current LIV player, Ian Poulter, has slammed the potential exclusion of LIV Golf players from the iconic team event, saying that "LIV Golf is here to stay."
LIV Golf: Ian Poulter goes on Ryder Cup offensive
24 September 2021; Rory McIlroy, right, and Ian Poulter of Team Europe during their Friday morning foursomes match against Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele of Team USA at the Ryder Cup 2021 Matches at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin, USA. Photo by Tom Russo/Sportsfile
When you think of iconic Ryder Cup players of the past 20 years, Ian Poulter is certainly one of the first names that springs to mind. The Englishman has been a member of seven Ryder Cup teams this century, coming out on the winning side on five occasions.
His passion for the famous team competition has been almost unrivalled in recent events, and he has provided some iconic moments - perhaps most famously at the 2012 "Miracle in Medinah."
He was a shoe-in for a future captaincy of the team, but appears to have thrown that away with his move to LIV Golf. Henrik Stenson was set to captain Team Europe in Rome this September, but was stripped of the honour after defecting to the breakaway series.
Speaking on his Instagram story, Ian Poulter responded to the controversy surrounding LIV Golf players being selected for the Ryder Cup. During a Q&A on his Instagram stories, Poulter was asked by a fan, 'Do you think LIV will last? Also gutted that you probably won't get to be Ryder Cup captain.'
Poulter responded by suggesting that LIV Golf is only just getting started, before saying "shame on them" in response to the DP World Tour's moves against players of the breakaway series:
LIV Golf League is here to stay it's only 30 rounds old. And every start up business takes time. I'm so proud to see how far it's come in such a short space of time. It's an incredible business and product and it will be incredible.
And if the DP World Tour chose to not have any LIV golfer as captain after they have supported them and still do for over 25 years then shame on them. Sad but that's on them. Time will tell and once all the info is out things will change I'm sure.
If the ban on LIV Golf players is upheld, Poulter is not the only big name who would be missing from the European team in Rome. The likes of Paul Casey, Thomas Pieters, Sergio Garcia, and Martin Kaymer have all moved to LIV since its inception.
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